1869-01-08 Trustee Committee on Interments: Report on Public Lot Interments, 1831.033.001

The Committee on Interments to which, in August, last, was referred the question as to what charge should be made in cases of second interments in the Public Lots belonging to the Corporation, have considered the matter and ask leave to report. -

That the persons who resort to the purchase of graves in the Public lots are almost exclusively those whose limited means will not permit of their purchasing private lots: that the price of thirty dollars for a single grave in one of these lots is fully equal to the price of a grave in private lots where the land is $1.25 per square foot: that in private lots there is no restriction against subsequent interments upon payment of the fee of five dollars, provided that the last interment is made three feet below the surface of the ground, and the Committee perceive no good reason why the rule should not be as favorable to the purchaser of a grave in a public as in a private lot.

The Committee learn that there has, for sometime, been a practice of charging over again, upon a second or subsequent interment in a Public lot, one half of the original cost of the land in addition to the burial fee of five dollars; but they do not find that such practice was ever founded upon any vote of this Board.

Your Committee think that after the price of the land and the fee for the first interment have been paid, the purchaser should not be compelled to pay anything farther for land in case of a second interment, and that after a second interment it is not unreasonable to prohibit further

interment in the same grave.

For the reasons aforesaid, the Committee recommend that the practice of charging for land in case of a second interment in a public lot be abolished, and that the by-law relating to interments be so amended as to substitute for the clause "where more than one interment is made in the same grave, the last shall be at least three feet below the surface of the ground", the following - "Not more than two interments shall be made in the same grave, the latter of which shall be at least three feet below the surface of the ground." Respectfully submitted,

[?] Adams Boston June 8, 1869. [?] Livermore, Committee on Interments.

Report of Com^ee of Interments on Amend^t of by law respecting 2^d Interments in Pub. Lots &c

Accepted Propose

June 8, 1869 In Trustees Read & adopted - Vol. IV. p. 241